Fuel-feeding device



Filed April 9, 1921 v z 4 L q m 7 v Z u H1 4 7A m f N 7 u m a K M HM. I 00 flflm3 3 l u 9% 5 Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

WILLIAM SPARKS, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T

STEWART-WARNER SPEEDOMETER CORPORATION,

CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, A

FUEL-FEEDING DEVICE.

Application filed April 9,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM SPARKS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Jackson, in the county of Jackson, in the State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Feeding Devices, of which the following, taken in con nection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in liquid-elevating and feeding devices, and is designed particularly for use in supplying liquid fuel to internal combustion engines of automobiles, motor boats, and the like, in connection with which it is very often desirable to have the primary fuel tank carried on the; vehicle at a level below the carburetor.

The application closely relates to my copending application Serial No. 447,196, filed February 23, 1921, Patent Number 1,898,206.

In practical operation of vacuum tanks by a suction line connected to the manifold of an engine, it is found, particularly with cer tain characters of motors, as a four-cylinder motor of high compression, that there is considerable pressure applied to the suction or vacuum line by the engine rocking back when it comes to a stop. The same result is caused to a greater or less extent by leaky valves, explosions in the intake manifold, etc.

One disadvantageous result of this application of pressure to the suction'line, and the elevated tank in communication there with, is that the gasoline, or other liquid fuel in .the lower chamberrof the tank is placed under pressure and forced out of the vent tube designed to maintain that tank at all times under atmospheric pressure. p

The specific object of this invention is to eliminate the application of any material pressure to the liquid fuel confined in the elevated tank, as a result of pressure being applied to the suction line leading to the intake manifold from any cause, as for instance, the causes above set forth.

Other objects and advantages relate tothe details of construction of the device as will more fully appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a tank of my invention.

1921. Serial No. 460,118.

Figure 2 is a section of the suction nipple takep at right angles to the section of F igure As stated, the device is especially designed for use in connection with automobiles, embodying internal combustion engines and the elevated portion thereof may be positioned at any point upon the vehicle to automatically supply fuel to the carburetor by gravity, and is usually positioned some distance above the carburetor, and above the primary fuel tank.

As shown, the invention comprises an elevated tank 1 having suitable connection by pipe -2 with the primary fuel tank (not shown), a second connection through pipe 3. with a sourceof suction, as'the manifold, of the engine, and a third connection, as through pipe4, with a carburetor. The elevated tank 1- comprises a sheet metal tubular body ---5, preferably cylindrical in form, and having its lower end closed by an end-wall 6. The tubular body is preferably divided into two chambers -7- and 8 by an annular transverse wall -9 having a pair of axially extending substantially concentric flanges 10 and l1, the flange -10'- tightly fitting within the tubular body portion and secured thereto in any suitable manner as by soldering, welding, and the like, while the flange 11 is internally threaded, and adapted to adjustably receive an externally threaded nipple 12 forming a means of communication between the chambers 7 and 8-.

The nipple 12-, may as shown, preferably be closed 'at its lower end bya transverse wall, and is provided adjacent said wall with a lateral opening -15, through which fluid may discharge from the nipple into the lower chamber 8. Communication between the chamber -7 and the chamber'-8 through nipple 12- and opening 15 is normally free, and substantially unrestricted.

To accomplish this effect and at times close such communication so that vacuum may be p'roduced'in the upper chamber to an extent suflicient to elevate liquid. fuel thereto, a valve l6 is provided pivoted at -17 adjacent the lower end of the nipple 12-- and formed with a counter-arm or counterweight '18 adapted tonormally hold such valve in open position so that communication between said chambers is normally free and open, permitting free passage of the liquid 'fuel from the upper to the lower chamber, or reversely, as conditions may require.

The nipple -l9r is preferably provided with a guide l9 for the stem -20- of the float -21 which is adapted to pass through said guide and downwardly into the interior of the nipple l2 and at cer tain predetermined positions of the float 21- to contact with a pin or projection -22, rigidly connected to valve 16- and extending through the opening 15- into the interior of the nipple 12- into line with the stem 20 of the float, which moves through the guide 19. With this construction the float positively moves the valve to closed position when that condition is desirable.

A stop 13- is formed in connection with the stem 20- of thefloat, which stop limits the downward movement of the float and therefore, limits the mechanical movement of the valve as actuated by the float stem so that the pin 22 does not come in contact with the lower end of the nipple.

In the construction shown, the valve stem 20 carries a valve 23 adapted to close the passageway -2l.- communicating with the nipple -3 that forms a portion of the suction line.

The operation of the float, therefore, positively controls the source of suction, and positively opens and closes the valve -16-- when conditions in chamber 7- require either particular operation to effect the best result. The cover-plate 25- is closed ex cept for the suction connection 3-, the fitting or pipe -2- and the air or atmospheric inlet 26-.

The atmospheric inlet 26 is controlled by a valve l6 which valve in turn is actuated indirectly by and in accordance with the movement of the float. The opera-- tion of the structure, so far as the related nature of the suction and atmospheric valves is concerned, is that the suction valve and the atmospheric inlet valve are controlled by the float.

The particular feature of this invention, and that structure which distinguishes it from the disclosure of my prior application is the provision of a valve in the suction or vacuum line which-is opened by the production of pressure in that line so that such pressure is not applied to the liquid fuel within the tank structure 1-. To accomplish this end, in a perhaps preferred manner. the nipple -3 is constructed in a new and improved way. As shown,'the nipple 3- embodies a chamber 27- connected to the source of suction by pipe 28 and to the upper chamber -7- of the tank by a restricted opening 24-. The chamber 27 is further in direct communication with the atmosphere through a vent -30 which is of relatively large size as compared with the orosssectional area of the perforathe valve -14rand permits the escape of such pressure. The vent 30- being comparatively so much larger than the conduit 24-, practically none of the pressure is applied to the tank 7.

In order to protect the valve 14 and maintain it in operative position, the nipple -3-- embodies a cylindrical projecting portion -32 extending above the seat for the valve l4iand the valve --liis positioned within this cylindrical extension. A cup-shaped cap, or cover, -83 is provided for telescoping relation with the cylindrical projection 32-- and the projection -8Q- is provided with cutaway portions or recesses 34- through which the air under pressure freely escapes. Preferably the cap is somewhat larger than its co-operating cylindrical extension of the nipple -3- so as to permit the free escape of air through the recesses and around the lower edge of the cap.

The cap may be held in desired operable position by means of a in --35 extending through the cylindrical extension and the cap, as shown. However, any other suitable construction may be substituted for the one illustrated.

From the above description, it will be readily understood that the production of any pressure in the chamber 27 is quite impossible due to the fact that the valve -14-' permits the immediate escape of any air under pressure which exists in said chamber, due to the practically negligible weight of the valve and the fact that the vent, or opening closed by said valve, is considerably larger than the conduit leading to the tank --7 results in the fact that practically no pressure can be applied to the tank -7-, or the tank -8-, which would cause elevation of the liquid fuel from tank 8-- through the vent pipe 36-- to the exterior of the tank structure.

The operation of the air valve -16 by the springs 37 and lever -38- is the same as that described in my former application.

The distinguishing feature of this application is the provision of a vent in the suction line which prevents the production of any pressure in the tank structure. It will be understood, however, that such a vent may possibly be placed in other positions, and may obviously be of various constructions, that shown consisting of a disk valve of practically negligible weight which is opened by the production of any pressure in the suction line, and is held in closed position by the production of any suction therein, so that suction is applied in its entirety to the chamber 7 while pressure is immediately neutralized by escape of air through the vent -30.

Although I have shown and described a specific construction as illustrative of a perhaps preferred embodiment of my invention, I do notdesire to limit myself to the same, as various changes may be made in the particular construction of the device, and the position and form of the parts thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a fuel feeding device, a vacuum tank, a suction connection thereto for producing a partial vacuum therein, a valve for controlling the suction port. means within the tank for operating said valve, the suction connection having an atmosphere vent anterior to the suction port and a valve controlling said atmosphere vent adapted to be opened by pressure in the suction connection, said valve being free from any connection with the suction controlling valve or its operating means.

2. In a fuel feeding device, a tank, a nipple connected to said tank, said nipple formed with a suction connection, a pas sage leading to the tank and a vent opening, said vent opening being of large crosssectional area as compared with the crosssectional area of the passage leading to the tank, and an outwardly opening valve controlling the vent, independently of conditions within the tank.

3. In a fuel feeding device, a tank, a

duit leading to the tank and a vent opening, 7

said vent opening being of large cross-sectional area as compared with the cross-sectional area of the conduit leading to the tank, a valve of practically negligible weight controlling said vent, and a cylindrical projection surrounding said valve.

5. In a fuel feeding device, a tank, a chamber having one opening adapted for connection with the source of suction, another opening leading into said tank, a valve controlling said last-mentioned opening and means controlled by conditions in the tank for O erating said last-mentioned valve, said cham er having a third opening serving as an atmosphere vent for said chamber, an outwardly opening check valve controlling said vent said check valve being free from connection with the previously mentioned means controlled by conditions in the tank.

6. In the construction defined in claim 5 foregoing, the opening leading from said chamber into the tank being restricted and the atmosphere vent opening of said chamber being large relatively to said restricted opening.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of March 1921.

WILLIAM SPARKS.

Witnesses:

LILLIAN E. WUNDERLICH, THEODORE J. SCOFLELD. 

